Dying for relevance and a hunger for cash…celebrities are starving to protect their profiles in an industry that is known to have a short attention span. In such desperation, celebrities and influencers see the MAGA movement as a refuge from flailing and falling into oblivion. These celebrities are namesakes in our community, and yet they betray us by aligning themselves and submitting to a man…a movement that is on a mission to dismantle the social, economic, and political power of Black people. We should be disappointed, we should be angered; however, we should not be shocked. Their strategy to “align” themselves with the MAGA movement is a sad attempt to capture economic and social capital.

Their motivations are selfish and gluttonous, but ultimately, they are strategic in achieving legal, business, and social gains. In the legal realm, several entertainers, such as Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, have shown vigorous support for Trump in the wake of receiving presidential pardons…rather ironic that a 34-time convicted felon can absolve the sins of his fellow convicts. They argue their support comes from Trump’s “Platinum Plan”, which has had rather adverse effects, given the concerning unemployment rate among African Americans, or his so-called dedication to criminal justice reform, despite the calls for more federal dollars to be dedicated towards prison construction and law enforcement militarization, which will gravely impact the Black community. For celebrities like Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, who have faced the criminal justice system, aligning themselves with MAGA is a haven from having to face the consequences of their actions at the expense of the community that gave them prominence.

Celebrities’ hunger for business and social gains is interconnected, as irrelevance may lead to dwindling bank accounts. Celebrities such as Nelly and Ludacris have sought to tap into the MAGA base by agreeing to perform at various events that promote nationalist and xenophobic rhetoric under the guise of patriotism. Artists like Nelly and Ludacris may see this as pure entertainment, but their performances at such events are a blatant co-signing of the MAGA agenda that looks down on Black people’s existence. Of course, there was backlash, but each artist’s response is important to note. Ludacris quickly backed away from the MAGA-linked festival, arguing there was a mix-up in scheduling. Nelly doubled down by performing at the most recent 2025 presidential inaugural events. He is set to perform at other MAGA adjacent events and has maintained a defensive posture that “this isn’t politics.” And he is partially correct. It is not purely political as it is all about the almighty dollar and the fight to remain in the spotlight. That motivation is not new, but Black celebrities selling out their Black fans to do so is new and rather concerning. The Black community has made these celebrities who they are because we carry the cultural currency that everyone desires; therefore, it is imperative that our community is aware of celebrities’ motivations and actions and respond accordingly…do not engage with their content in any form.

More celebrities have made headlines for their associations with MAGA…Chilli from TLC, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, Nick Cannon, and Amber Rose. However, their true motivation for their association is often dishonest, disoriented, or lacking factual reasoning. We must pay attention and respond accordingly. Our attention, our dollars and our cultural currency are more powerful than the forces that work against us. Prominent figures who chose to betray us should not receive our glory and praises, particularly when our humanity is on the line.